Hierochloe redolens (Vahl) Roem. & Schult.

Robust, lax tufts. Leaf-sheath glabrous, ± striate, lower ± purplish. Ligule 2–3 mm, chartaceous, ± irregularly rounded. Leaf-blade to 70 cm × 8–12 mm, abaxially ± glabrous, adaxially scabrid on prominent ribs; margins glabrous or prickle-toothed. Culm to 130 cm, internodes glabrous. Panicle 20–30 cm, erect, nodding above, and lower branches also nodding; branches binate at nodes, very slender, naked for ½ to ¾ length, spikelets crowded distally; pedicels 0.5–2 mm, villous. Glumes unequal, membranous, scarious, glabrous, ovate, acute, keeled, 3-nerved; lower 6–7 mm, mostly ≥ lower floret, upper 7–8 mm, > second floret. Florets pale straw-coloured. ♂ florets: lemma 5–6.5 mm, oblong-ovate, lobes c. 1 mm, chartaceous with scarious tips, long hairs on keel below, minutely scabrid above, margins ciliate with soft, silvery hairs; awns 3.5–6 mm, slender, ± straight, insertion 3–4 mm above base; palea 4–5.5 mm, membranous, irregularly finely scabrid on keels; lodicules 1–1.6 mm, ± ovate, lobed, acute, glabrous; callus hairs to 1.25 mm; anthers 2–3 mm. ☿ floret: lemma 4.5–6 mm, narrow-ovate, glabrous, apex minutely hairy, muticous to subapically mucronate 0.25–0.5 mm; palea 4–5.5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, keel 1–(2) finely irregularly ciliate; lodicules 0.75–1 mm, ovate-oblong, abruptly tapering, often lateral lobed, glabrous; anthers 1–1.5 mm; gynoecium: ovary c. 1 mm, stigma-styles 4–5 mm; caryopsis c. 2 mm, embryo 0.5 mm, hilum 0.75 mm. Fig. 11. Plate 5D.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]